Government guilty of ‘appalling negligence’ and has ‘spectacularly failed’ during coronavirus crisis, says Piers Morgan
PIERS Morgan has blasted the Government's "appalling negligence" in its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
The 55-year-old hit out at how officials have "spectacularly failed" at keeping Brits safe and protected.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Piers criticised Health Secretary Matt Hancock's announcement yesterday that everyone going from hospital back into social care would be tested for coronavirus.
The Good Morning Britain host likened the comments to sending "lambs to the slaughter".
In his Piers wrote: "The result of this appalling negligence – there's no other word for it - is that Britain's care homes are now exploding with coronavirus, both among the residents and the heroic care workers trying to look after them, often without adequate Personal Protection Equipment.
"The situation is so catastrophically bad that the Government has no idea how bad it is."
Experts have warned that more than 4,000 care home residents may have already lost their lives to coronavirus without the deaths being officially recorded.
New figures show 217 residents in nursing homes in England and Wales have died from coronavirus in the 14 days leading up to April 3.
However, Care England and the Alzheimer’s Society believe the death toll within care facilities is being under-reported because of a lack of testing.
Mike Padgham, from the Independent Care Group, said he believes 4,000 residents could have already died from coronavirus.
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers.
The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM.
No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here
www.
And based on the ONS figures, the Alzheimer’s Society estimates there have been at least 2,500 deaths from nursing homes.
Piers continued: "It feels increasingly, disconcertingly evident that many of the people charged with doing so in Britain don't have a clue what they're doing."
He cited the numerous policy U-turns of the Government as why the daily death toll in the UK is so high - not including the figure of those dying in care homes.
Piers wrote: "This government has spectacularly failed in that duty during this crisis so far."
This morning, Piers took Mr Hancock to task and asked him directly about the people being sent back to care homes without being tested.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Mr Hancock said if they were symptomatic then residents would be isolated when they go to the care home.
Mr Hancock then explained: "This is one of the reasons that it is so important to get that testing capacity up.
"I am working night and day to increase the testing capacity."
Mr Hancock has promised to increase testing capacity to 100,000-a-day by the end of the month. Latest figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show that on April 14 15,994 tests were carried out.
Piers then accused the Government of lagging behind "on PPE, testing, we are having to go cap in hand begging manufacturers to make ventilators...
"You got up in January in the House of Commons and said, we are completely prepared.
MOST READ IN NEWS
"Why is the reality that we are so under-prepared?"
Mr Hancock explained how the virus was a new one and had a "different impact than has ever been seen before".
Getting full-length gowns which were never needed before was a challenge, he added.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, .
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - .
